William J. Taylor

Lieutenant Taylor was shot and mortally wounded by a gun-crazed war veteran. Lieutenant Taylor and two other officers responded to a report of a man shooting a gun in the air at 324 East 4th Street. When the officers arrived the man went into his bed room and refused to come out. When he finally agreed to come out he had a .22 cal. pistol in his hand. When Lieutenant Taylor grabbed the gun the suspect pulled away and shot the officer twice in the abdomen. One of the other officers returned fire killing the suspect. Lieutenant Taylor died from his wounds eight days later.

Lieutenant Taylor was a World War II veteran, having served as a boatswain's mate aboard an LSM in several Pacific invasions. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Bio

Age38

Tour6 years

BadgeNot available

Incident Details

CauseGunfire

Incident DateFriday, February 18, 1949

WeaponHandgun; .22 caliber

OffenderShot and killed

Most Recent Reflection

You were my uncle I never knew as you passed I was two years old as well as leaving my cousin and her mother without a father and husband may you continue to rest in piece after all these years always in my thoughts